Tennessee Truck & Tractor Trailer Accidents

Trucking accidents can have catastrophic consequences because of the sheer size and weight of the average commercial truck. Unfortunately, a commercial truck is a difficult vehicle to control, with poor visibility and brakes compared to the average car. Truckers making wide turns often may not even realize they are sideswiping a car or motorcycle.

Large commercial trucks are built with very poor protection for the driver, and poor crashworthiness in trucks affects all individuals involved in the accident. The sad truth is that trucking accidents lead to close to 5,000 fatalities annually in the United States. Tragically, one out of every eight US traffic fatalities involves a trucking collision.

Although Tennessee places second in the nation for truck safety inspections, the state still has a truck accident fatality rate that is 30 percent above the national average. Determining fault in such serious accidents involves many complex legal issues, making trucking accidents a specialized area of practice different from auto accidents. The attorneys at Gilreath & Associates are experienced in the added complexities of litigating a trucking accident injury or death.

Trucking accidents can be caused by carelessness or negligence, including:

Driver fatigue

Reckless or careless driving causing rollovers

Inattention to other traffic

Non-compliance with federal trucking regulations for rest breaks

Drug or alcohol use by a truck driver

Trucking company negligence for inadequate training of drivers

Trucking company negligence for inadequate safety programs

Inadequate vehicle inspections

State and federal laws establish a wide, and potentially confusing, array of standards and requirements relating to the operation of commercial motor vehicles. These include:

The number of hours a commercial driver can be on the road

Driver training and qualifications

Oversight and supervision of the driver

Maintenance and repair of the commercial motor vehicle

Choosing a law firm familiar with such complex regulations is essential. The severity of these accidents requires a reliable trucking accident attorney with a broad range of experience in dealing with:

Under-rides, in which a car goes underneath a truck

Rollovers, which cause more than half of all deaths in large truck accidents

A tractor-trailer wreck involving a motor carrier regulated by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has built-in protection for an injured accident victim. The problem is that the carriers will not disclose they have insurance policies beyond the mandatory policy until you file suit. For instance, they will not tell you:

The driver of the DOT-regulated vehicle is their statutory employee, even though the contract refers to the driver as an owner-operator

They are responsible for the actions of that driver as long as the driver acted within the scope of that statutory employment

They have valued your claim at five or ten times the amount they are offering you for a full release of your right to sue

Gilreath & Associates is a member of the Association of Interstate Trucking Lawyers of America and Sid Gilreath is a national board member. AITLA is a national association of committed lawyers who have joined together to improve roadway safety by working to eliminate unsafe and illegal interstate trucking practices.

Don't fall for the claims of attorneys promising fast cash and no hassles. A serious case involving severe injuries or death requires serious effort.
Contact the experienced trucking accident attorneys in Tennessee at Gilreath & Associates for a knowledgeable evaluation of your case.

The hiring of a lawyer is an important decision that should not be based solely upon advertisements. Before you decide, ask us to send you free written information about our qualifications and experience. This web site is designed for general information only. The information presented at this site should not be construed to be formal legal advice nor the formation of a lawyer/client relationship.